PyeongChang 2018 – One Day Itinerary
Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics will be one of the biggest winter Olympics of all time. Therefore those that have not booked accommodations whether it be ski resorts, hotels, or Airbnb, you are pretty much screwed. Your best bet would be to get accommodations in Seoul and plan a one day trip to Pyeongchang.
Finding Accommodations
Is it possible to find accommodations now? Highly unlikely but sure there could be rooms that open up as the Korean government starts to realize the lack of accommodations. Also, Airbnb could open up at the last minute to cash in on the high demand. But your safest bet would be to find accommodations in Seoul and take the KTX to Pyeongchang. This means you need to get your KTX tickets TODAY…I mean RIGHT NOW! One thing great about the KTX is that you know for sure there won’t be traffic.
Book your KTX ticket NOW!
When booking your KTX ticket, make sure you get a RETURN ticket as well. Most likely you won’t be able to get a seat but rather a standing ticket. Think of it as a 2-hour standing subway ride. It will cost you about $100-$200 depending on how much they will raise the price.
We recommend you make sure you have your KTX before coming to Seoul. You can go to their site here. If you know someone in Seoul already, it might be better to ask them to buy it directly as more tickets could come out.
Avoid the Roads
The South Korean government will provide free shuttle services but that could be an even bigger headache as the roads to PyeongChang would be gridlocked. Getting on these free shuttles would be a terrible mistake. This is why I would not suggest buses, taxis, shuttles, etc. The Olympics will be during the Korean New Year (Seul Nal). During the 3-day period, Seoul is almost deserted as most people leave the city to return to their ancestral roots. Even if the Olympics were not happening, February 14th-18th needs to be avoided when traveling on roads.
We would recommend getting the earliest possible KTX ticket. Book the ticket for 6-8 am. Get on the KTX from Seoul Station and arrive at Pyeongchang or Gangneung by 10 am. Tickets for events can be found here. Pyeongchang will hold the opening and closing ceremonies as well as some of the main events. For ice sports, you will need to go to Gangneung. There is a high chance you will be able to buy tickets on site form ticket scalpers or the ticket booth but the prices will be expensive. Once you are at PyeongChang or Gangneung station you will be able to walk to the events.
PyeongChang
the Olympic Stadium (opening and closing ceremonies);
- Alpensia’s ski jumping, Nordic skiing, biathlon, and sliding (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton) centers;
- the two alpine ski centers of Yongpyong (giant slalom and slalom) and Jeongseon (downhill, super G, and alpine combined);
- and the Bokwang Snow Park (snowboard cross, halfpipe, slalom, and slopestyle, plus freestyle skiing).
Gangneung
the Gangneung and Kwandong hockey centers;
- the Gangneung Oval (speed-skating);
- the ice arena (figure skating and short-track speed-skating);
- and the curling center.
If you don’t have tickets, just going to the event would be just as fun. There are some fun things to do in Pyeongchang even if you don’t have a ticket. All this can be done in one day. For a more detailed information regarding the venues please go here.
- “Dae Gwang Ryeong “Snow Festival” – A traditional Korean winter festival since 1993.
- “Pyeongchang Food Town” – Showcasing many kinds of Korean traditional foods.
- “Makdong Valley” – The best view at the Olympics.
Hope this advice was helpful. Have a Happy New Year and a great Olympic experience!
